Christian Education For All

Christian Education is a vital part for all ages for the faith family at First United Presbyterian Church!

Sunday School
Sunday School begins at 9:30 and ends at 10:30, with Worship beginning at 10:45.

Nursery is available both during Worship.

Adult Sunday School Classes

Koininia Class:  Meets in the Library, and is taught by Rev Steve Merrin 

Christian Ethics This wonderful group continues to explore a variety of current events and ethical questions through the Christian eye.  Mike Brady teaches the Christian Ethics group in their new location, the ‘stage right” classroom off the Chapel.  

Faith Journey, meets in the Chapel Lounge and is taught by Karen Brady 

Children and Youth Sunday School: 

Our Children’s Sunday School classes are divided by grade: PreSchool-K, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-5, Middle School (grades 6 – 8) and High School. 

Pre-School – Kindergarten Class
Our Pre-school program uses a Sparkhouse curriculum called Frolic, exploring Bible stories from both the Old and New Testament.  

Grades 1 & 2:  Our 1st and 2nd Graders will have a variety of studies throughout the year

Tweens, Grades 3-5:  Our 3rd – 5th graders will study “Learning to Use My Bible, The Liturgical Seasons and the 23rd Psalm in 2021-22

Middle School (grades 6-8) will have a variety of studies throughout the year

High School:  Our High Schoolers will explore the Gospel of Mark

Building Blocks

First United Presbyterian Church Building Blocks: 2021 – 22

A Building Block is the beginning of a strong foundation, whether in construction or with one’s education.  At First United Presbyterian Church, we believe that faith can be enhanced with a strong faith foundation that includes the memorization of various songs, Bible verses, as well as reading scripture and learning various aspects of the church and each building block is designed to be age appropriate.

Both at home and through Sunday School, children and youth are encouraged to learn their building blocks, which are due in late April and awarded each year in early May.  Building Block brochures are available outside the Sanctuary (Narthex) and in the Fellowship Hall.

Upon the completion of your building block, children and youth will receive a “Building Block”, as a reminder of their accomplishment and are eligible to receive 50% off the basic one-week camp fee at Kirkmont Center (after Kirkmont discounts are applied.)  This grant is made possible from the funding of the Deacons and Christian Education Ministry Team.

PRESCHOOL and KINDERGARTEN

Pre – K                                              2021-22 

• Memorize and sing:  “Jesus Loves Me”
• Memorize and sing:  “My God is So Big”
• Memorize and say:  Psalm 118: 24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

1^st & 2^nd Grade:                                2021-22

• Memorize and sing: Gloria Patri
• Memorize and say: The 10 Commandments

3^rd -5^th Grades:                                 2021-22

• Memorize and Say: 23rd Psalm
• Memorize the Liturgical Seasons of the Church Year

Middle School:                                 2021-22

• Choose a hymn and memorize at least two verses.
• Memorize and say Psalm 100

High School                                      2021-22

• Read the Book of Mark
• Memorize Matthew 28:19-20
  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

Weekday Book Study

This group currently meets on Tuesdays from 11:30 – 1:00.  We share lively discussions with book enthusiasts. The class chooses the books from a variety of Progressive Christian writers and usually cover a chapter of the book each week.  Come join the study!

Current Study: Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today by John Shelby Spong

Past Studies

• Days of Awe and Wonder: How to Be a Christian in the Twenty-first Century by Marcus Borg
• Witness at the Cross by Amy Jill Levine
• Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way and Presence by Diana Butler Bass
• Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans
• Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality by J. Phillip Newell

• The Remarkable Ordinary – How to Stop , Look and Listen to Life” by Frederick Buechner
• “Leap Over a Wall” by Eugene Peterson
• “The First Paul” by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan
• “The Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Ordinary Life” by Tish Harrison Warren
• The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan 
• “The Bible Tells Me So” by Peter Enns

Presby Book Club (Adults)

The Presby Book Club was founded in 2008 and currently meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (subject to change).  People of all ages within and outside the 1st UPC family are welcome.  The group usually meets in one of our participant’s homes.

Genres we have selected from are fiction, non-fiction, biographies and classics. Some have a religious theme but not necessarily all selections. Some have been best sellers, some little gems never heard of before.